TOTARA.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 August 1923, Page 4

TOTARA.

SI’LKXDii) B01?KR-RiiS ISTEU. (Christchurch Pres-). As broad is the stall of life. so limber is Ihe stall of ilit* building, profession. ami without it llit* tradesintui has mu wherewithal to till the gap. Tliore tire many enemies which would roll man of his timber, but elite! amongst those is the borer, a ravage: v.Jiit-li is unfavourably known from the North Cr.pe to the liluff. This little grub Ins Ijt'Cti responsible for untold damage throughout New Zealand, and ninny thousands of pounds have had to be expended to make good its ravages. It hii> even been known to attack lend ami till the softer timbers from its happy hunting grounds. White pie.e especially ell'ord- nit excellent home for the borer, and mane of our imported timbers, too, provide it. with e\e dleut shelters. Ilintu. inatai, red wood, and other classes ol wood have all been known to be attacked. but it is exceedingly interesting to discover that another timber, that of a tree grown in New Zealand, is borer prod. Oak aid the hardwoods are seldom, if ever attacked, and now totara, sap \or lean, mav -ololv be added I■ * tuc | list . ’! be bio overy was made by a ! Cliri-iebureh builder t|ttite reeently. lie ' u.i- 1111 11 i] i" down a bouse which bad I on s! a mliit>/ lor some .Vl years, and : mi ta 1. 111 :* no l ie- llooi'icg. which vas [ [ol while nine, be di~eo\'eied il to be j absolutely riddled with the borer. Ibe i imber was in indi a -dal e ol decay [ |ha t t!: i • win 1,, of the llooring oi Ihe ' l;i;m-e v. a ■ ~ii : • -.■ <lll • • 11 1 1 y sold lor iive ; dull )|... ior lire,'.nod. The llotir joists j «.i Ihe litis.' were of sa 1 1-1 Ilf a rn. and were uiildn -is inches ‘I the ground. Y o i h■■ v were absolutely sound, with i mil live b rer mark on them. I n man.-. 1 plates, 100. were al.-o of sap-iofara. ed to the joists, tints proving beyond jail (loulit i hat thcv were eompn-ed oi 1 lie oilier t imber ol the tree. Ihe : plates, mi. were also of sap totara. and u ere in ail excellent stale ol pro serration. j Struck with this proof of the ext elj lent <|iialiiies of the timber, the ; I,nil.!' r silb-enuently used the joist' j lor sasl.es in a new bungalow. 'I be : timber served the purpose splendidly, j and ttlien treated properly presents a l I eantifol appearance. In the past. New Zealand builderhave been accustomed to impart Ihillic j and redo oo<l for sashes, but this tlisji m cry hie- opened up' new possibili- | i.;,.5. li-dlie is llie limber tvhielt is I u>ei! for preference, hut ii is now s uuoi U I,at -I dheull to ;i •■<jt l i ft*, aml redr. ood | j., me 1 in its place. Seeing tliat i t tarn has proved suitable ior 11 1 .■ purj |i,si-, ii i. oi l l\ natural l bar ii should jbe used in place of t he import" 1 ar i iii ! ■, a ;ih ii moiilii !he I fomiin.m as ! a V, ii: le. The builder uho broUghl j ilm mat ler under i lie v. riter’s not ice |el oie - t ha i ioi lira tt ill oul last oil her j I*a 1 1 i e or redwood three times, and il v i u! I iimri ! ire seem --sp •diem to use ■ \t i: ri ter possible. I lie also stilted t hat. t!r\ tmaia was ! rei'v lull'd to obtain, ami be double I I if anv (oil'd I e proeureil ill Christ - I i bureii l --day. Ila explained that j i lain took a iremen.hois time lo seaj sott. ami tiiai fact somewhat militated against its n-o. lint seeing ihat it I po-ses-es Mich good oualitios, it uotili! : seam well u..rt!i while for some of j (.ip' t imber mereban! s t o give ii a j trial. If emit ii were seasoned pro- : p'orlv 1 1 " ou'd be a i rulv valuable I imber for all puipnscs. -old il -c, um se|in>’.t h -1 ! of a sham" I" slio'l il be u-e b'-i' i.- ii is prop ‘fly plena red. 'I lm va In - . I this i imb. r is i ri aiulv t. i line v bleb - boil Id recommend id sell ior '' ■■ -ri■ •:i■. eon.- lerati><u of build